After following two of the main suspects in the Rameswaram Cafe explosion case throughout many states, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken them into custody. After being detained in West Bengal, Abdul Matheen Ahmed Taahaa and Mussavir Hussain Shazib were transported to Bengaluru late Friday night.
How it happened?
The culprit is seen entering Dream Guest House in the Kolkata neighbourhood of Ekbalpur on CCTV footage that detectives were able to get. Under false names, they booked into the hotel on March 25 and left on March 28. According to accounts, this was before they went to the East Midnapore region.
The accused regularly changed their addresses as they fled Karnataka to avoid being apprehended by law authorities, according to people acquainted with the probe. Before being caught, they checked into several modest hotels in different states. To avoid creating a paper trail, they paid with cash in most locations.
Actions taken
Before tracking down the accused, authorities searched eighteen locations in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh. Kanthi is a small city 180 miles from Kolkata.
Officials said, “The accused had been staying in a lodge in Bengal.”
Shazib and Taahaa were detained by the NIA on March 1 on suspicion of involvement in the explosion that took place at the Rameswaram Cafe on ITPL Road in Brookefield, Bengaluru. Ten people were hurt in the explosion.
Suspicions
“Shazib is believed to have placed the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at the cafe, while Taahaa is suspected to be the mastermind behind the attack,” said authorities.
Rewards
On March 3, the NIA assumed control of the inquiry and declared a reward of ₹ 10 lakh for each piece of information that resulted in the two accused being apprehended.
Looking forward
The suspects were given a 3-day transit remand by a Kolkata court on Friday, which enabled the NIA to transport them to the capital of Karnataka for additional investigation. The two suspects will appear before the Bengaluru NIA court after completing a standard medical examination.